Harford County deputies report nearly 500 car break-ins

Authorities stress importance of vehicle owner diligence

Harford County sheriff’s deputies are investigating a large number of car break-ins and thefts from autos. Authorities said they believe the trend can be stopped, or at least slowed, with greater diligence by vehicle owners.

Officials said as of Sept. 9, deputies have responded to 492 incidents reported to the Sheriff’s Office in 2013. In July, they responded to over 100 incidents.

Deputies said, while thieves do search out and target specific vehicles and communities, more often than not thefts from vehicles are typically crimes of opportunity.

Vehicle owners often leave their cars unlocked with personal items clearly visible inside the passenger compartment. Sometimes aggressive thieves will smash windows but with that comes the risk that the noise will alert someone, deputies said. So they search out unlocked vehicles.

Deputies said they see the highest number of these incidents in more densely populated areas like Bel Air, Edgewood, Aberdeen and Fallston with a combined total of 434 incidents. The remaining areas of the county only recorded 58 incidents.

Thieves will take purses or wallets, and very quickly fraudulently misuse credit cards, hours before the victim knows they have been stolen, deputies said. Thieves also take phones, iPads, laptops, GPS units and other electronics from unlocked vehicles, deputies said.

Deputies urge people to keep their vehicles locked and to keep valuables out of sight. Cars should always be locked even during times when the owners are home. Deputies assigned to the Community Policing Unit said most thefts from vehicles happened while cars are parked at homes and when asked, most vehicle owners tell police they didn’t think it would happen to them.

Police also note that owners will often leave their car unlocked when stopping for a quick errand or at a convenience store. It takes very little time for a suspect to reach into an unlocked car, steal an item, and be gone before the owner realizes the theft has occurred, deputies said.

Deputies recommend when shopping to park in well-lit areas, and remove all valuables from the car before leaving home or secure them in the trunk of the vehicle.

Deputies also strongly remind owners it is illegal to leave their vehicle unattended with the engine running. Police want vehicle owners to be safe and to help reduce the likelihood of them becoming victim of a crime. They said awareness and diligence goes a long way towards reducing that risk.

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